The First Seven Divisions: Being a Detailed Account of the Fighting from Mons to YpresHamilton, Ernest, Lord
History
The First Seven Divisions: Being a Detailed Account of the Fighting from Mons to Ypres
Hamilton, Ernest, Lord
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Western Front
insufficient trenches, was too much for human endurance. Sir Charles
Fergusson, the Divisional General, with an absolute disregard of
personal danger, galloped about among the bursting shells exhorting the
division to stand fast. An eye-witness said that his survival through
the day was nothing short of a miracle. It was a day indeed when the
entire Staff from end to end of the line worked with an indefatigable
heroism which could not be surpassed. In the 19th Brigade, for
instance, Captain Jack, 1st Cameronians, was the sole survivor of the
Brigade Staff at the end of the day, and this was through no fault of
his. While supervising the retirement of the Argyll and Sutherlands, he
coolly walked up and down the firing line without a vestige of
protection, but by some curious law of chances was not hit. He was
awarded a French decoration.
In spite of all, however, by 2.30 p.m., the right flank of the 5th
Division had been turned, the enemy pressing forward into the gap
between the two Army Corps, and Sir Charles sent word that the Division
could hold its ground no longer. Sir Horace sent up all the available
reserves he had, viz., the 1st Cameronians and 2nd R. Welsh Fusiliers
from the 19th Brigade, together with a battery, and these helped
matters to some extent, but the immense numerical superiority of the
enemy made anything in the nature of a prolonged stand impossible, and
at 3 p.m. he ordered a general retirement. This was carried out in
fairly good order by the 3rd and 4th Divisions, which had been less
heavily attacked. The withdrawal of the 5th Division was more
irregular, and the regiments which stuck it to the end--becoming
practically isolated by the withdrawal of other units to right and
left--suffered very severely.
This irregularity in retirement was noticeable all along the
battle-front, some battalions grasping the meaning of the general order
to retire with more readiness than others. Among those in the 5th
Division who were slow to interpret the signal were the K.O.S.B. and
the K.O.Y.L.I.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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